All That Is In The World

as shared on Intouch.org

By: Dr. Charles Stanley (07/24/20)

1 John 2:15-17

John warns us not to love the world or the things in it. But what is the world? The apostle isn’t talking about the material realm, so there’s no need to deprive ourselves of everything we enjoy in life. Rather, he is reminding us that every good desire can be perverted by sinful longings and pride.

The nature of the world system is seen in the behaviors, attitudes, and ambitions of our culture:

Immorality. Our society seeks to gratify lust in ways that God has forbidden. Immorality has even entered our homes through the internet and television. 

Greed. The culture is driven by a desire for wealth, material possessions, fame, and power—and some people lie, cheat, steal, or kill to get what they want.  

Pride. People are lovers of self and want to be seen as better than others. It’s common today to portray oneself falsely on social media in order to be admired. 

Despite the sinful condition of our culture, we shouldn’t be discouraged. God is greater than the world’s power to entice, and His purposes aren’t thwarted by sin. He is able to guide us through the darkness as we trust and follow Him.

Living into a New Normal - Fruit of the Spirit Devotional

By: Dr. Steven K. Parker

·      What is kindness?

·      List some examples of kindness you’ve experienced.  Why do these examples stick out in your mind?

Hear:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-26)

Pause:

·      If the fruit of the Spirit that Paul lists are a normal part of life when we live in God’s kingdom, what does that say about kindness?

·      If we grow in the Spirit, we will grow in kindness, but how do we grow in God’s Spirit in a way that produces kindness? 

Reflection:

This week’s living into a kingdom normal, fruit of the Spirit devotional is about a virtue that can be harder to display than it is to understand.  Kindness refers to a gentle, gracious type of thoughtfulness that is profitable or practical.  It is love displayed in some kind of tangible, helpful way.  We experience the kindness of God in so many ways.  Every good gift we receive in this life and the next comes from the hand of God.  God offers us the gift of salvation and the blessing of His many promises, not because we’re such amazing people, but because He is an amazing God, full of grace, love, and mercy.  Because of the kindness we’ve experienced in Christ, God requires us to show kindness to all people.  It’s not hard to be kind to people who are kind, pleasant, and easy to be around.  It can be quite difficult to show kindness to people who are unkind, rude, and difficult.  Yet, that’s the brand of kindness God shows sinful people like us and expects for followers of Jesus to display as a normal part of life in His kingdom.  When we experience this brand of kindness and share it, we often find that it softens some of the rough edges of our character.

Throughout this season of pandemic, political fallout, economic uncertainty, racial hatred and animosity, and the many other problems we face, people have been asking, how can I make a difference?  That’s probably the number one question I’ve fielded the last few months.  When we’re on lockdown and unable to meet face-to-face in the manner in which we’re accustomed, we can begin to feel disconnected and that lack of connection can make us feel like helpless pawns in a chess match that’s in a stalemate.  The problems of our world are complex and we can become so mired in the complexity of things that are beyond are control that we can lose sight of the simple ways that we can influence the outcome of our days.  In everything we face we can show kindness.  We can’t overstate the significance of that virtue in response to the struggles of our world.  When we disagree about how to respond to the pandemic and whether or not to wear a facemask, we can show kindness.  We can make the decision to engage people who come from different races and backgrounds and get to know them and seek to understand how they look at the world and we can show kindness.  We can be more careful about what we post on social media and how we respond to what other people post. What kind of a difference would it make in our home, church, community, country, and world if we made the simple decision to grow in the Spirit of God so that Jesus’ brand of kindness might become the defining part of our story? 

As we grow in the Spirit, we will find ourselves living a life that looks more and more like Jesus who shows kindness without concern for whether or not the other person is deserving.  When we begin to live with that kind of Spirit-directed kindness we will find it to be more contagious than the Coronavirus, because when we experience kindness, we want to share it.  Let’s pray that God might infect the whole world with the kindness of Jesus through us!

If you’d like to hear more about kindness, you can access a recent sermon in our Living Into A Kingdom Normal series by clicking here.

Wonder:

·      Why do you think the simple virtue of kindness is so significant?

·      What are some practical kindnesses we can show through this pandemic?

Bless:

·      Affirm what everyone has shared.

·      Pray that God might help us to grow in His Spirit that our lives might more and more be characterized by kindness.

Pray together:

“Lord, we are grateful for the many kindnesses you have shown us.  You never stop to ask if we are worthy of your grace, but lavish it upon the just and unjust alike. Help us to grow in that brand of kindness that you have shown us time and again through Jesus.  In the midst of the frustrating uncertainty of this pandemic, help us to express kindness toward everyone you put in our path.  Remind us of the meaningful acts of kindness we’ve experienced from different people over the years and help us to make similar investments of kindness in the lives of others.  In the face of all the hate, frustration, and anger that we experience on a daily basis, help us to sow kindness the Jesus way.  In the kind Spirit of Jesus we pray, Amen.” 

We hope that you will join us online Sunday at 9:30 AM in Spanish and at 11:00 AM in English.  We also have various Zoom Bible Studies and Sunday School classes that you can plug into; call the church office at 956-968-9585 or message us on Facebook for more information about those.  May God produce His kindness in us!

Jesus Must Increase

He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:30

“God’s ways aren’t our ways, but HIS ways save. Our ways don’t.”

Jefferson Bethke

If your heart’s desire is to keep pushing the Gospel forward, Jesus must grow in importance in our hearts, in our minds, and in our everyday lives. When we meet people, they must see more of Jesus and less of us. As followers of Jesus, we are forever changed. Our pride gives way to humility, albeit not without a fight. I have to admit that for me it seems to be a daily struggle, chiseling away, one chip at a time. Thankfully I do not have to do it on my own, it is done by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. 

This verse we are focusing on is credited to John the Baptist, the one who prepared the way for the Lord, and pointed to Him and said, “behold the LAMB of God who takes away the sins of the world.” John the Baptist was a very humble man. He knew his purpose in life. John the Baptist wasn’t full of himself, beaming with pride. He knew his purpose, and his purpose was to point people to Jesus. He spent every ounce of his energy and every minute of the day fulfilling that purpose.

The pandemic has given us time to reflect and to look at what is our purpose in life. I have heard so many people say that we should not come out of this the same, we should be improved. We have seen so much hurt and we have been provided with so many opportunities to help someone in need. 

Throughout the pandemic, FBC Weslaco has assisted families with food, first responders with hot meals, and this week we are delivering care packages to the local hospital. Call the church office to see how you can help. 

God wants us to make ourselves available, so that He can use us. He wants us to remain teachable, so that we can learn how to help others, how to fulfill our purpose. And John the Baptist knew this, he knew that as followers of Him, we must decrease, so that Jesus can increase. 

Please listen to this song written and performed by a good friend of mine, Joel Engle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPOiB7qGZK4

Meditate:

He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:30

Discuss:

How is Jesus increasing in our lives?

What changes need to be made so that Jesus increases and we decrease?

How can we help a someone/family in need this week?

Pray:

Heavenly Father, strip away all that remains for Your glory and Your name, help me remove all that needs to go, until there is nothing left of me.  I want people to see You in me. Let me decrease daily so that You increase. 

In Jesus name, Amen. 

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 12 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.

Striking Likeness

Scripture

Ephesians 5:1-2  (ESV)

5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

In Ephesians 5 Paul tells us to be “imitators of Christ.” Just like we all did as children, we would mimic the behavior and characteristics of our parents; we are to imitate the behaviors and characteristics of Christ. Hannah would do that a lot with Scott, when she was younger. They both had a way of biting on their lips when they are concentrating on a task. It’s hilarious to watch because they look so very much alike! I would do something similar with my older sister, Dawn. I would copy everything she did or said and would act like her at home.  It drove her crazy and caused some heated scuffles between us! Funny, because isn’t there a saying or proverb that says: “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”?  Hmmm…..food for thought Dawnie!

When we imitate Jesus more – we don’t have to wonder what our behavior should be in any given situation. In the Bible we have the biography of Christ as our perfect example of how to respond to the circumstances we face each day with humility, love, wisdom, patience, kindness and grace.

This passage in Ephesians tells us that we imitate Jesus by walking in love. But what does it mean to walk in love? When you take a walk, as opposed to a run, it allows you the ability to get a clearer picture of the things that surround you. We walk in love when we give careful attention to the moments of our lives with a mindfulness that sends each and every thought, encounter, action and reaction through the filter of “Am I thinking, speaking and treating others the way Jesus would if He were in my shoes right now?” We walk in love when we reflect the nature of God in our thoughts and behavior. This is something we can all practice more of in our daily lives!  Look for ways this week where  you can be a blessing to someone else. 

Charles Spurgeon wrote that believers are to be a “striking likeness of Jesus Christ”… so striking a likeness that the world will say of us, “he has been with Jesus; he has been taught of Him; he is like Him.”

For the Kiddos:

Enter:

  • What characteristics or behaviors of your parents, or even an older sibling do you copy or mimic? From which parent: Dad or Mom or both?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used.

Wonder:

  • Describe the characteristics of Jesus.

  • What characteristics of His are easy for you to imitate?

  • What characteristics are more difficult for you?

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

  • Think back over your week. Can you remember a few things that you said or did today that you might do differently if you were being mindful of imitating Jesus?

  • What are some things in your life that might be distracting you from being mindful of your thoughts and behavior. (digital device? cellphone? video games?) Think of ways you might change those things.

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Father God, forgive us for being poor imitators of you to our family and others around us. May your Holy Spirit fall fresh on us today and help us to be mindful to reflect you in every thought, word and action. Help us to recognize each day the opportunities before us, big or small, to be the face of Jesus to the world. And help us to selflessly love others as you have loved us. We pray all this in the mighty name of our savior - Jesus! – Amen!

Sharing the Gospel in a Divided World

Gather:

How has it felt to not be be able to do “normal” things during COVID-19?

Have you noticed divisions in our community or our nation?

Have people generally been kind one another in our city? our state? our country?

Hear:

Acts 14:2-7

14 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews,together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.

Pause:

Take a minute and meditate on this story.

Wonder:

How do you think Paul and Barnabas felt as people were believing?

How do you think they felt when others were “poisoning” minds against them?

At the beginning, middle and end of this passage, Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel. Would you have done that too?

Debrief:

People in our world are debating everything from masks, to what food products you should buy, to which people or groups you are “allowed” to support on social media. As Christians, it is easy to get caught up in these debates because, frankly, there are no sports to talk about. Personally, some of these debates frustrate me to my core and have actually kept me lying awake some nights!

Paul and Barnabas had a one track mind. I think if they were lying awake at night it was because they were trying to figure out more ways to deliver the gospel message to more people. I’m sure they were concerned about the divisiveness surrounding them, but they continued to press forward in service of God’s kingdom.

Perhaps I should spend more time considering, like Paul and Barnabas, how to share the gospel in a divided world. Perhaps praying that God’s word changes the hearts of men toward the Creator of Heaven and earth would be a better way of passing the time than scrolling through frustrating social media feeds or staring blankly at a dark bedroom ceiling. There will always be divisiveness around us - what we choose to do about it is what matters. Will we choose to focus on the Kingdom-minded objective of preaching Christ or wallow in the divisiveness of the world around us?

Paul gives some great advice to the church of Corinth on how we can be all things to all people so that some may be saved:

20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. (1 Corinthians 9:20-22)

Bless:

Dear God,

Help us to be more concerned about sharing your gospel than about winning arguments. Help us to put others first. Help us to speak boldly and effectively so that many will believe.

Amen.

The Benefits of Fasting

As Posted By: Dr. Charles Stanley for intouch.org

  • JULY 17, 2020

Matthew 13:1-23

In the parable of the sower, Jesus teaches that it takes good soil to produce a plentiful harvest. He advises against planting seed on the rocky places and warns about dangerous thorns that choke the plants. He directly applies this to our spiritual life, explaining that the seed is God’s truth; it’s only in good soil that the Word is received and spiritual fruitfulness is produced.

Biblical fasting can position our heart to receive God’s truth. It can make us ready for the planting of the Word, and through that, to receive greater insight, direction, and faith (Rom. 10:17). Then we will be better prepared to set ourselves apart from earthly concerns and spend time concentrating on heavenly matters. The Lord may use this time to reveal any stumps, rocks, and roots that entangle our heart and prevent spiritual growth. And He promises to be with us as we confess and face these obstacles.

What’s the condition of your heart’s soil? God wants to clear out the rocks and weeds in our life and break up any hard soil; biblical fasting prepares us for such tilling. God is calling His people to consecrate themselves to Him. Won’t you come before Him to be made ready?

Living into a New Normal - Fruit of the Spirit Devotional

By: Dr. Steven K. Parker

·      What is patience?

·      What does impatience look like?  How does impatience impact our life?

Hear:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-26)

Pause:

·      If the fruit of the Spirit that Paul lists are a normal part of life when we live in God’s kingdom, what does that say about patience?

·      If we grow in the Spirit, we will grow in patience, but how do we grow in God’s Spirit in a way that produces patience? 

Reflection:

There’s a lot about the circumstance we find ourselves in right now that’s unsettled.  We don’t know when we’ll be able to resume our in-person worship services. We now know that in-person instruction won’t begin in Hidalgo County until, at least, the end of September and we’re not really sure what our kids’ online instruction will look like.  Will our youth be able to compete in extracurricular activities like sports or band?  Your guess is as good as mine.  Beyond those considerations, we don’t know what the long-term impact of this pandemic will be on the economy and the political landscape of our nation.  In the midst of all this uncertainty, we can get really frustrated or we can patiently seek the face of God.  We can get really worked up about all this ambiguity or we can trust God to guide us through the ambiguity.  Either way we’re going to have to wait for things to play out, but the seeking, trusting response will probably produce a much more positive result in us and for the people around us.  I have to admit that I have tried it both ways.  I have days when I get very frustrated and anxious about all this ambiguity, but the days when I have been able to find patience by making peace with the uncertainty of this season have been a sweet time of re-connecting with my family, engaging God’s word, praying for all of you, and enjoying time with our dog, cat, goats, and rabbits.

We can and we should be politically active.  We live in a place where we are blessed to be able to have and express our own opinions and that’s a good thing, particularly when we can express ourselves in a way that reflects the grace of Jesus.  But, the truth remains, that no matter how much we fret, what’s happening around us is likely going to be what it is going to be.  That’s an important lesson to sit with beyond this pandemic, because life is not always going to be accommodating.  Difficult people and circumstances are always going to be a part of our days.  Those circumstances will get the better of us apart from the Spirit of God, but when we grow in God’s Spirit we have the tools we need to endure anything because the Fruit of the Spirit is patience; and such patience is the norm of life in the kingdom of God.

            The patience we need right now is the byproduct of a life lived into the Spirit of God.  That means we can’t achieve patience by trying to be more patient.  We achieve patience by slowing down and letting the Spirit of God work in us.  As we do that, we can begin to pay attention to the number of times we say the word “hurry,” because we cannot be patient and in a hurry at the same time.  When we catch ourselves about to say the word hurry, it might be a good discipline to meditate on the phrase, “the fruit of the spirit is patience.”  We might even need to repeat that to ourselves out loud to make sure we get the point. 

Many of us are learning, the hard way, that a lot of inconveniences, frustrations, and difficulties accompany a pandemic.  As we struggle through those things, we’d probably do well to remember in prayer those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, battling illness, and struggling to meet basic needs because of real financial struggles.  Let’s also commit to pray for those making the decisions that tend to be so frustrating for us, remembering that it’s hard to be in a position where you’re likely to be criticized no matter what you do.  Those prayers might just, in the end, produce the fruit of God’s Spirit in us and help us practice a little more understanding and patience.  If you’d like to hear more about patience, you can access a recent sermon in our Living Into A Kingdom Normal series by clicking here.

Wonder:

·      Why do you think patience is so important?

·      What changes can be made in our days to cultivate more patience in our souls?

Bless:

·      Affirm what everyone has shared.

·      Pray that God might help us to grow in His Spirit that our lives might more and more be characterized by patience.

Pray together:

“Lord, we are grateful for your patience with us.  You are our Creator and Redeemer, but often we live in ways that don’t line up with your best desires for our life.  Still you love us, work in us, and use us in your kingdom.  Help us to grow in the kind of patience that you show us.  In the midst of the frustrating uncertainty of this pandemic, help us to express patience.  When an unsettling sense of hurry begins to brew inside of us, we ask that you would replace it with trusting patience as we seek your face.  In the patient Spirit of Jesus we pray, Amen.” 

 

We hope that you will join us online Sunday at 9:30 AM in Spanish and at 11:00 AM in English.  We also have various Zoom Bible Studies and Sunday School classes that you can plug into; call the church office at 956-968-9585 or message us on Facebook for more information about those.  May God produce His patience in us!

 

 

 

Born Again?!

John 3

1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

For the Adults:

Celebrities often attract people for the wrong reasons. People want to be close to glamour and fame, hoping that some of it will rub off on them. So many people today are also attempting to become social influencers.  In Jesus' case, many were attracted to Him for actions, his miracles, and, sadly, many went no deeper. This story is of one man who did go deeper. 

Nicodemus was an influencer of the time. He understood the laws and what he had been taught, but he did not have a full understanding of the Gospel and Salvation.

Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again. A new birth is the only way to enter the kingdom. John uses a very interesting word here that is translated anew, or again. It is the Greek word, anothen, which means again or from above. In other words one must be born again from above. It signifies God must do this. It is something God that does, not man, and its results are a new creation.

Jesus saw in Nicodemus a deep hunger, an emptiness. Here is a man who was doing his very best to obey what he thought God wanted, and yet he had an empty and unsatisfied heart which led him to seek out Jesus by night, to talk with Him about the kingdom of God. 

The conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus is so powerful because it outlines for us the Gospel. It is the gift that saves our souls and gives us a hope and joy that we cannot find anywhere else. It is the gift that gives us eternal life. 

For the Children:

Have you been born again?

Who are you trying to imitate? 

Do you spend more time watching your favorite ___ on YouTube or in God’s Word?

How are you allowing God’s Spirit to guide your life?

Read and Meditate:

John 3:1-8

Pray:

Father I know you sent Your son Jesus to die for our sins so that we can have eternal life. May Your Spirit guide my every move every day of my life here on earth. 

Just a Small Seed

By Robin Wiley

Scripture

Mark 4:26-29

The Parable of the Seed Growing

26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

For the Kiddos:

Have you ever considered the power of a seed? We live in a world where most of us can travel a short distance to a grocery store or fruit stand, buy fruit or vegetables, and return home to enjoy something that was cultivated in dirt by someone else. We consume the fruit and toss the rest. Jesus wants his Disciples to understand that long before a harvest is collected, some faithful person scattered seed to begin a process that only God can oversee.

For the past several years, my two sisters (who live in Minnesota), shared a small garden for the summer. They would plant the usual vegetables: tomatoes, carrots, onions, lettuce, potatoes, etc. and also some beautiful flowers. One summer, they decided to plant butternut squash. In case you were wondering - butternut squash is like a crooked and funny looking pumpkin.

They planted just a few seeds in one of the corners of their garden and were shocked at what happened. Soon vines stretched through much of the small garden producing about sixty butternut squash! If you have ever prepared this squash for dinner, you will see all the small seeds it contains inside, sometimes as many as 160 seeds! (Yes, they counted them before!!) 

Now I know school is out for the summer – but let’s do a little math. 160 seeds multiplied by sixty butternut squash is 9,600 new plants that could be created. If each of those 9,600 seeds had been harvested and re-planted, a yield of 576,000 new butternut squash could be cultivated in just one generation. That’s a lot of butternut squash!  Wow!

Jesus knew the implications of sowing good seed. The harvest belongs to the Lord, but we, his faithful disciples, get to spend our lives sowing the seed of Gospel truth and love wherever we go.

Enter:

  • Have you ever planted anything from seeds?

  • What is your favorite vegetable?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Mark 4:26-29 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to choose a different place to do your devotional time. Maybe sit outside or in the backyard and be still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

  • Buy a packet of seeds of any type of flower, plant or vegetable or use some seeds from a vegetable you have eaten (but it must be dried first) and plant it in pot. Plant it this summer and watch it grow. 

  • It takes about 3-4 weeks for the plants to grow to produce fruit or vegetable. When you harvest your plant – give thanks to God for gift.

  • Share the gospel with sometime this week!

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God! 

Example:

Father God, Thank you for the seeds of your Word we can scatter in our own lives and in the lives of others. Show us how we can grow closer to you and share what you have given us with others. Give us grace each day to sow seeds of faith into our hearts and the hearts of others. Please us experience the fullness of joy that comes from placing the harvests in our life at your feet.  We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus! – Amen!

The Struggle with Doubt

By Charles Stanley (from intouch.org)

James 1:5-8

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

To trust that biblical promises are true requires faith. According to Hebrews 11:1, faith is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (NIV). At salvation, we believed through faith that we were saved by God through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. 

Since then, many of us have struggled to believe consistently that God’s promises are true—or that they apply to us. Our faith has been mixed with doubt. Sometimes we feel unsure of God’s love or forgiveness. At other times, especially when life gets hard, we question whether we’ve truly been given all that we need. If prayers are not answered as we expect, we wonder whether the Lord really cares about us. In such instances, our feelings and circumstances cloud what we truly believe. 

The good news is that Scripture can help us gain confidence in times of uncertainty. It can be trusted because the author—God Himself—is trustworthy. As we study its pages, the Holy Spirit works through our doubt, and the promises of God begin to sink in. 

Remember, Jesus invites us to bring our burden of doubt to Him. We can trust that He will give us rest from it (Matt. 11:28). 

Rekindling The Flame

As posted by InTouch Ministries on intouch.org

1 Timothy 4:14-16

Passion to serve the Lord and share the gospel will ebb and flow throughout a believer’s life. Some choose to settle for a lukewarm existence—neither risking much for His name nor receiving many blessings. Others stop ministering altogether and drift aimlessly through life. But whenever we feel indifferent, we should try to rekindle the flame of passion that was first lit at the moment of salvation.

When we were saved, we received the gift of the Holy Spirit. So, the first step is to pray for the Holy Spirit to fill—or control—us afresh. That requires self-examination and repentance of any sins the Lord brings to mind. It also means giving back to God the right to reign over our life.
Next, think about what was (and what wasn’t) happening in life when passion last burned brightly. What external pressures and activities affected your ministry then and now? How can you prioritize such things wisely?

Finally, devote a day or more to retreat and refocus on the Lord. Meditate on His words of encouragement, such as Isaiah 41:10. This way, instead of fixating on our problems, we can remember He is our shepherd in every situation. The passion we experienced at salvation can be ours again as we focus on the Lord.

Living into a New Normal - Fruit of the Spirit Devotional

Enter:

·      What is peace?

·      What does it feel like to not have peace?

·      How do you think we find God’s peace in the midst of difficult times?

Hear:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-26)

Pause:

·      If the fruit of the Spirit that Paul lists are a normal part of life when we live in God’s kingdom, what does that say about peace?

·      If we grow in the Spirit, we will grow in peace, but how do we grow in God’s Spirit?

Reflection:

These trying times have resulted in an increased sense of anxiety for many people.  Our normal routines have been interrupted and haven’t yet returned to anything resembling normality and our neatly held illusions of relative harmony in our land have been challenged and all that turmoil produces anxiety.  Peace can seem like an elusive virtue in these anxious times.  One of the reasons that a lot of us don’t have a lot of peace to offer to the current situation is that we didn’t bring a lot of peace into the current situation.  The Psalms talk about being still and knowing that God is God (Psalm 46:10) and laying down in green pastures and being led beside still waters (Psalm 23), but none of that sounds much like the lives that a lot of us were leading, heading into the challenging events that have come so far in 2020.  When the quarantine slowed life down for so many people, a lot of us didn’t know what to do with ourselves.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that many of the relational issues and psychological issues that people have been hiding under the rug of busyness have been difficult to process.  Into all this anxiety, depression, relational discord, and social unrest, Paul reminds us that the fruit of the Spirit is peace.  Peace is the norm of life in God’s kingdom.   

As we seek the peace of God that can be so elusive today, Eugene Peterson asks some good questions: “How can I lead people into the quiet place beside the still waters if I am in perpetual motion?  How can I persuade a person to live by faith and not by works if I have to juggle my schedule constantly to make everything fit into place?” (The Contemplative Pastor 19).  There are demands upon our time that are beyond our control.  We need to make a living. We need to be there for our families.  We need to do what we can to be instruments of God’s justice and mercy where we live, living as the hands and feet of Jesus.  In honoring all those commitments, we also need to set good boundaries for our lives so that we leave space to cultivate our relationship with God. Spiritual Disciplines like Sabbath, worship, meditation, study, and devotional reading are all difficult or impossible to do while we are scurrying from place to place.  Evaluating our own schedules can become a sort of spiritual discipline as we learn to cut out the things that keep us in perpetual motion, so that God’s Spirit can prepare our hearts for peace in the midst of circumstances that are beyond our control.  Regularly looking at the things we do, how we spend our money, and the places we go gives us the opportunity for self-reflection: is a relationship with God one of my many pursuits or do all my pursuits draw their character from my relationship with God?  Am I seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness above all else?

It’s ok to lament the circumstance we find ourselves in.  There’s a lot about this Covid-19 situation and the uncertainty of the future and the instability of the economy and the politics of all of that that can be very frustrating.  We can and should express all of that to God and do what we can to make a positive impact where we live.  But I hope that in all of our frustration we don’t miss the opportunities of this moment to be still, experience God’s presence in the midst of our struggles, and grow in God’s Spirit.  Growth in God’s Spirit produces the fruit of God’s Spirit and the fruit of God’s Spirit is peace.  If you’d like to hear more about God’s peace, you can access a recent sermon in our Living Into A Kingdom Normal series on the spiritual fruit of peace by clicking here.

Wonder:

·      Why do you think peace is so important?

·      What changes can be made in our days to cultivate a greater sense of God’s peace?

Bless:

·      Affirm what everyone has shared.

·      Pray that God might help us to grow in His Spirit that our lives might more and more be characterized by God’s peace.

Pray together:

“Lord, we are grateful for your peace that comes, even through the most trying times of life.  Help us to grow in your Spirit of peace.  In the midst of this pandemic, the world’s hate, and the challenging political environment we find ourselves immersed in, help us to find ways to experience and share your peace.  When times are hard, help us to remember that your peace “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).  In the peaceful Spirit of Jesus we pray, Amen.” 

 

We hope that you will join us online Sunday at 9:30 AM in Spanish and at 11:00 AM in English.  We also have various Zoom Bible Studies and Sunday School classes that you can plug into; call the church office at 956-968-9585 for more information about those.  May God fill your week with peace!

 

 

 

 

 

Man fights off one of the world’s deadliest snakes while driving: The urgency and privilege of living a life God can bless

Dr. Jim Denison

A man was driving his pickup truck on an Australian highway when he noticed a reptile in the vehicle. And not just any reptile. It was an eastern brown snake—highly venomous and responsible for the majority of snakebite deaths in the country.

It started to wrap around him, striking at the driver’s seat between his legs. He used a seatbelt and a knife to fight it off while trying to stop the car. He thought he had been bitten and feared for his life, since eastern brown snake bites are fast-acting and fatal. 

After killing the snake, he hit the accelerator and headed for the closest hospital. To make things worse, a police officer saw him driving at high speed and pulled him over. The man explained his predicament, and the officer called for help. When paramedics arrived, they determined that the man had not been bitten but was suffering from shock. 

“It was pretty terrifying,” he admitted. If there’s a bigger understatement in today’s news, I haven’t seen it. 

There are times when we must fight the snake in the truck with no help from others. The virus that is afflicting our world affects our institutions but infects us individually, no matter who we are. 

We are claiming this week God’s promise:

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” -Psalm 33:12

Nations are made of people. A nation does not have a soul or the ability to make God its Lord. This is something its inhabitants must decide. We must each do individually what we hope to do collectively.

In The Weight of Glory, C. S. Lewis notes that the real reason we need democracy is not that we are all so wise and good that we deserve a share in the government. Rather, it is because “fallen men [are] so wicked that not one of them can be trusted with any irresponsible power over his fellows.”

At the same time, people will outlive institutions by a factor of eternity. Quoting Lewis again, this time in Mere Christianity: “If individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nation, or a civilization, which may last for a thousand years, is more important than an individual. But if Christianity is true, then the individual is not only more important but incomparably more important, for he is everlasting and the life of a state or a civilization, compared with his, is only a moment.” 

Two life principles follow. 

One: We should choose to make the Lord our God at any cost because we cannot measure the eternal significance of present faithfulness. 

I am reading the book of Jeremiah these days and found this statement by the prophet to the people of Judah: “For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, to this day, the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened” (Jeremiah 25:3). 

Imagine doing anything for twenty-three years without apparent success. To the contrary, Jeremiah was whipped and put in stocks (Jeremiah 20:1–3), faced a mob that tried to have him executed (26:1–9), was beaten and imprisoned (37:11–15), and was even put into a deep cistern where he sunk into its mud and was left to die (38:1–6) before he was later rescued (vv. 7–13). 

Nonetheless, the prophet remained faithful to his Lord. Even when he was taken against his will to Egypt, he continued to prophesy (Jeremiah 43–44). According to ancient tradition, he was stoned to death there by his fellow Jews. 

Despite the cost of his courage, who today would not wish for a life of such historic and eternal significance? 

Two: We should help others make the Lord their God because this is the greatest gift we can offer them. 

In these difficult days, we often hear people describe what they miss that they were doing before the pandemic. However, there’s another side: What were you doing before the pandemic that you don’t miss today? 

In other words, what are you learning about what matters most? What are you discovering about the best use of your time and resources? How are you learning to focus on that which is truly significant?

My answer is that the pandemic has given me the opportunity to center more fully on seeking to know God and make him known. The lack of meetings, travel, and outside events has brought an unprecedented focus to my days. And I am learning anew that seeking and speaking God’s word to our questions and issues is my heart’s passion and joy. 

His word is clear: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). What gift has God given you for serving others? Whom can you serve in ways you could not before the pandemic? What can you do to love your Lord and your neighbor in new ways?

If you will live a life God can bless, you will be grateful for all of eternity. If the rest of us follow your example, so will we.

Follow Me

Scripture

Matthew 4:18-22

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 

21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

For the Kiddos:

I am amazed whenever I think about Jesus uttering the two words “Follow me” to the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James, and John while they were in the midst of their work as fishermen. What I find amazing is that as Matthew records these encounters, he tells us about the response of these four men as “immediately” leaving what they were doing to follow Jesus. Do you think that is something you would do? Or would you instead said – “Let me think about it Jesus.”

Just like these first disciples, Jesus calls us to “follow me.” These two words occur 22 times in the Gospels, and in the rest of the Bible there are many references to people finding ultimate meaning and purpose in life by following God and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

The famous preacher, Dr. James Boice, tells us that these two words are important because they teach us important truths about being Christ’s disciple. Dr. Boice specifically mentions these five marks of those who follow Jesus.[1]

First, there is obedience. The words “follow me” are a command. We are to hear and obey this call right at the start, and continue in obedience in every area of life for all of our lives.

Second, there is repentance. Christ’s followers must turn their backs on their sin and pursue righteousness.

Third, there is submission. We recognize that our lives are placed under the authority of Christ and His Word.

Fourth, there is trust. A disciple trusts Christ to lead him on the path He has chosen for us, even when it might not feel right and there’s temptation to trust in someone or something else.

Fifth, there is perseverance. Following Jesus is not a once-and-done endeavor. It is a lifetime commitment.

Enter:

  • What are some distractions and/or stumbling blocks we most likely encounter that can keep us from following Jesus?

  • As you have gotten older, what habits have you used to stay on track as a follower of Jesus?

  • How does the Holy Spirit help us remain on the path of discipleship?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Matthew 4:18-22 ESV) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to choose a different place to do your devotional time. Be still and listen to God!

Wonder:

  • How can we encourage each other to faithfully follow Jesus in the five ways mentioned in this devotional?

  • Which one is your favorite & will be easy to do?  Which one do you think might be difficult?

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

  • Look for ways during your week to practice the disciplines of obedience, repentance, submission, trust, & perseverance with your relationship with God.   

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Father God, you have made us to be part of your family. The answer to our restlessness in life is only found in a relationship with you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Increase our faith in you and empower us to truly follow Jesus in every nook and cranny of our lives with obedience, repentance, submission, trust, and perseverance. We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus! – Amen! 

1] James Montgomery Boice, Christ’s Call to Discipleship (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2013), 34-40.

Faces, Families, and Feelings

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Matthew 5:46-47

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.

Recently, we spent time visiting with some dear Christian friends who love Jesus, honor God, and serve God’s Kingdom faithfully. They also happen to vote on the other side of the political spectrum than we do. We usually don’t talk about politics, but with COVID-19 on the rise, heightened racial tensions and no sporting events to discuss, politics came front and center in many of our discussions.

We live in an age where people use broad brush strokes to paint pictures that define people based on their religion, political affiliation, stance on major issues, or behavior. Christians are _________. Democrats are __________. Republicans are ________. Those who protest are ________. Those who don’t stand up for injustice are __________. Those who wear masks are __________. Those who don’t wear masks are ________.

We do this because it’s much easier to villainies a group of people when you don’t actually put faces, families or feelings together with the groups you disagree with. But the people in these groups are all made in the image of God. They have faces that we should get to know, families with needs we should help fulfill and feelings with which we should empathize. Some of “them” are not so different from “us.”

We were likely never going to change our friends’ political minds, nor them ours; but hopefully talking out the issues at least made it possible for each “side” to understand that rational, God-fearing people may actually exist on the “other side” of the political spectrum. Even if people at times are not rational, they are still made in the image of God and must be treated with love.

As Christ’s Church we are called to love one another. It’s complicated. It’s not easy. But we are commanded by Jesus to do it. Maybe we can start by getting to know the faces, families and feelings of those who seem to be “opposed” to us. After all, we are all created in His image!

Wonder:

How can we see God’s image in others?

How can we show love for others?

How can we keep from “villainising” those who disagree with us?

Bless:

Dear God,

Help us to remember that all people are created in your image and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. When we get frustrated with the world, politics, and even the people around us, help us to remember that all of our hope is actually in Jesus and it is not our job to win arguments but to share His love with others!

Amen

Attacking the Evil One

Matthew 4:1-11

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

You only have to watch the news to know that there are spiritual battles all around us. It is so important that we put on all of God’s Armor and stand firm in Him (Eph. 6:10-20).

But there is one part of the armor that is used for attack - The Sword of the Spirit - God’s Own Holy Word! When Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus responded each time with God’s word. We must follow Jesus’ example and learn God’s word so we can also take part in the spiritual battle! All of our armor helps us to stand firm in God; but without God’s word, we will never be able to join in the attack against the evil one.

Instead of griping, complaining, or being frustrated with the terrible battles all around us, stand firm in God’s power. Read God’s word. Pray. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, so pick up the Sword of the Spirit and fight. We will not ever be able to attack the evil one without God’s word hidden in our hearts!

Living into a New Normal - Fruit of the Spirit Devotional

Enter:

·      What are some things that bring you joy?

·      Do you think it makes God happy when we experience joy? Why or why not?

Hear:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-26)

Pause:

·      If the fruit of the Spirit that Paul lists are a normal part of life when we live in God’s kingdom, what does that say about joy?

·      If we grow in the Spirit, we will grow in joy, but how do we grow in God’s Spirit?

Reflection:

A few weeks ago in our Sunday morning worship, we talked about the spiritual fruit of joy.  You can access that sermon on our YouTube channel by clicking here.  In the Bible, joy is a deep and abiding inner rejoicing, promised to those who abide in Christ.  Such joy often exists where external circumstances would say that it shouldn’t be found.  While our happiness depends upon what is happening to us, joy transcends what’s going on in our lives.  That’s how we can be around someone who’s going through terrible things and be blessed by their joy and we can be around people that seem to have everything going for them and they’re just miserable.  The difference between those two lives is joy.  Proverbs 17:22 tells us, “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.”  That kind of “cheerful heart” grows out of our relationship with God, because of the transforming power of Jesus that’s at work in our lives.  Our sermon series on the fruit of the Spirit that we’re calling Living into a Kingdom Normal reminds us that ceaseless joy is the norm of life in the kingdom of God.  That means laughter and enjoyment in this life are preparation for the life to come when we will continue to dwell with our joyful God.

Christian author Richard Foster suggests some practical ways to nurture kingdom joy in our hearts.

·      Singing, shouting, and “making a joyful noise to the Lord” 

·      Laughing, poking fun at ourselves, and relishing good comedy

·      Celebrating the creative gifts of fantasy, imagination, and play

·      Making family events into times of celebration and thanksgiving

·      Playing games, watching movies, reading books

Could you try any of those practical suggestions?  Might you offer more suggestions for nurturing joy?   

Wonder:

·      Why do you think our joy is important to God?

·      How can we grow in joy?

Bless:

·      Affirm what everyone has shared.

·      Pray that God might help us to grow in His Spirit that our lives might more and more be characterized by God’s joy.

Pray together:

“Lord, we are grateful for your joy that is new every day and not dependent on what we are going through.  Help us to grow in your Spirit of rejoicing.  In the midst of this pandemic, the world’s hate, and the challenging political environment we find ourselves immersed in, help us to find ways to experience and share your joy.  When times are hard, help us to remember that “joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).  In the joy-filled Spirit of Jesus we pray, Amen.” 

We hope that you will join us online Sunday at 9:30 AM in Spanish and at 11:00 AM in English.  We also have various Zoom Bible Studies and Sunday School classes that you can plug into; call the church office at 956-968-9585 for more information about those.  May God fill your week with joy!

Nothing Left of Me

John 2:13-25

13 The Jewish Passover was near, and so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” 17 And his disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me. 18 So the Jews replied to him, “What sign will you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” 20 Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made. 23 While he was in Jerusalem during the Passover Festival, many believed in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. 24 Jesus, however, would not entrust himself to them, since he knew them all 25 and because he did not need anyone to testify about man; for he himself knew what was in man.

For the Adults:

Our Father can produce such character in me only to the degree that I submit to His Spirit and seek to be more like His Son. For our fallen culture to seek Jesus, it needs to see Jesus in us. More today than yesterday, and more tomorrow than today. 

Dr Jim Denison

The story of Jesus' cleansing of the temple took place at Passover.

According to the Mosaic Law, all Jews were to come to Jerusalem for three festivals each year.

John's Gospel includes mentions of at least three Passovers (Chapter 2,6, and 11).

Jesus was at a wedding in Cana, in Galilee, then headed to Capernaum, before returning to Jerusalem for the Passover. 

Passover is a celebration of God delivering the Jewish people from Egypt. In remembrance of the Passover lambs sacrificed on the first Passover, lambs were sacrificed in Jerusalem each Passover.

This wasn't Jesus' first Passover in Jerusalem, by any means. He had doubtless been many times from childhood. But this is the first time he has come to Passover during his public ministry. 

Jews came to the Temple from all over Israel, indeed from all over the known world. It was a time where Jerusalem would be packed. And because of travel most of them couldn't bring animals with them to sacrifice. 

Passover was also the time that people paid the annual temple tax. So their money had to be exchanged, and it was in-season, so the rates were higher. 

Jesus was offended, not because everyone needed to buy sacrificial animals, sheep, goats, dove, etc... but that God's house had been turned into something that looked like a flea market, far from its main function as a house of prayer.

And HE did something about it. He got rid of everything that didn’t belong there. He cleaned out the temple. And HE wants to do the same to us. Get rid of everything that does not belong. 

We do not enjoy Jesus cleansing us, as we like to hold on to a few things that we enjoy. He wants to strip away all that doesn’t belong, so that there is nothing left of us. But we will never be able to be the person He wants us to be if we do not submit and seek to be more like Him. 

For the Children:

What needs to be cleansed from my life?

Am I looking more like Jesus everyday?

Do people see Jesus in me?

Meditate:

Read John 2:13-25

Pray:

Heavenly Father, show me what needs to be removed from my life. Help me remove all that needs to go, until there is nothing left of me. I want people to see You in me. 

In Jesus name, Amen. 

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 12 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.

Hyper-Seeing

Published in Daily Bread Teen Edition (YouVersion Holy Bible App) – “Hyper-Seeing” by DR

Scripture

Romans 8:28-30  (ESV)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

For the Adults:

Have you ever wondered how artists can turn a block of wood into a carving of an animal? Or a lump of stone into a person’s face? Artists have a word for this: “hyper-seeing”. When they look at a block of wood, rather than seeing the block, they can see the image they want to create from it.

Hyper-seeing is also a good description of what our all-seeing God does. He sees all that we are – and more. He sees what we will be when He has finished His work in us, when we stand before Him at the end of our lives, blameless and without fault. The God who started this great work in us will keep going until He finished it on the day Jesus Christ comes back (see Philippians 1:6). Bit by bit, He is chipping away at us each day to make us look even more like His Son.

God’s work in us can’t be stopped. Whether we’re enjoying life or feeling low, God is at work. Whether we’re looking forward to today or wishing it would pass quickly (like what’s going on with the COVID-19 stuff!), God is going to use everything we go through to keep shaping us.

For the Kiddos:

Enter:

  • For kiddos: what do you want to be (like a teacher, doctor, police officer, fireman, nurse) when you grow-up and become an adult?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Romans 8:28-30, Philippians 1:6 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to choose a different place to do your devotional time. Maybe sit outside or in the backyard and be still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

  • In what ways do you look more like Jesus today than you did last year? Or even yesterday?

  • What is God “chipping away” in your life right now to make you more like Jesus?

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

  • List out three traits or characteristics about Jesus that you would like to model in your own life (eg: humility, slow to anger, peacemaker, teacher, etc.).

  • Pray daily to God for ways you can show those traits or characteristics to others.

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Father God, you knew each of us before we were made or formed in our mother’s womb, and you know what each of us are capable of becoming. Shape us to become more like your Son, Jesus. Give us His humility, grace and forgiveness to be the salt and light in this dark world. Thank you for loving us so much to keep molding our hearts and lives to be yours! We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus! – Amen!

Sometimes People are Good

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  9not by works, so that no one can boast.

If you haven’t seen Tom Hank’s recent movie, It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, you should! I’m not sure there is a more Christ-like figure in our time than Fred Rogers. One of Mr. Rogers goals was to help children wrestle through difficult issues - issues that are often left festering into our adult lives.

The end of the movie features a song Fred Rogers wrote in 1974:

Sometimes People are Good

Sometimes people are good,
And they do just what they should.
But the very same people who are good sometimes,
Are the very same people who are bad sometimes.
It’s funny, but it’s true.
It’s the same, isn’t it for me and…

As we wrestle through these difficult times of COVID-19, racial tensions and incessant judgement of those from the past and present who think and act differently from us, let’s try to keep two things in mind:

  1. It is God’s grace that covers us - not our works. Because of God’s grace, no one on this earth is better than anyone else: whether they wear a mask or not; whether they fight social injustice in an “acceptable” way or not; whether they have done good things or bad things - we are all saved by the same grace.

  2. Sometimes even good people do bad things. It’s easy with the onslaught of social media and regular reports of doom and gloom to assume the worst in people. Instead, let’s try to see the best in people who do things we disagree with because “Sometimes the very same people who are good sometimes are the same people who do bad sometimes…and It’s the same…for me and you.”

Blessing:

Dear God,

Help us to show the grace you have given us to others. Help us to remember that those that are falling short all around us are under the same grace that we have received. Let us be a light in dark places by remembering that even good people who do bad things need Jesus.

Amen